Dutch legal framework for offshore wind to be amended due to German zero bids

Following the recent postponement of an information meeting for the Hollandse Kust tender as a result of the zero bids in the German offshore wind tender, a spokesman from the Ministry of Economic Affairs now confirms that the government will amend the legal framework for offshore wind as the amount of the tender bids is currently the sole aspect for the award of a tender. In the case of submission of zero bids in the Dutch offshore wind tenders, other aspects of the bids need to be included in the tender regulation in order to decide on the award. Moreover, the permit for an offshore wind park is currently linked to the subsidy award. Since in the case of a zero bid there will be no subsidy and this could lead to problems with regard to the grant of the permit.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs has announced that the tender regulation will be amended on short notice in order to avoid any delays of the upcoming Hollandse Kust tender and the subsequent tenders.